13 July 2026

Why a fund manager calls it quits on a stock

Any fund manager will always be keen to chat about what they’re optimistic about, whether that’s the next AI leader they think everyone else has missed or why they’re backing the market leaders.

Which is great, you want to know why they think that investment is going to deliver sizeable returns. Yet equally as important as knowing why you want to...

9 July 2026

What’s getting ahead of the S&P 500?

US equities has been the main market to try and beat over the past decade, and some funds and themes have managed to do so, consistently.

Past performance is no guarantee of future returns, but it can be worth paying attention to what has outperformed through the recent AI-rally, Iran war and long-term volatility.

AJ Bell analysed the major equity...

8 July 2026

You might be investing in SpaceX without realising it

Investors who opted not to buy shares in SpaceX’s record-breaking IPO last week may want to double check whether or not they’re due to have a stake in Elon Musk’s newly-listed venture in the near future.

Chances are that if you hold a global or US tracker fund in your portfolio then you will have some SpaceX exposure before too long.

How you could...

6 July 2026

Are you a hands-on or hands-off investor?

When you look around at your friends or family, most people will likely fall into two camps: those that are ‘hands-on’ and those that are ‘hands-off’.

Stereotypically, this the difference between those who take the lead of planning every single element of their group holiday, mapping out routes to the best bars and restaurants they made...

6 July 2026

Head to head: Fidelity Index World vs the HSBC FTSE All-World Index

The Fidelity Index World and HSBC FTSE All-World Index tracker funds are two of the most popular investments with AJ Bell’s DIY investors across virtually every age group.

They are the sixth and eighth most popular holdings among all AJ Bell Stocks and Shares ISA holders, coming in behind four of AJ Bell’s own Managed Funds and Scottish Mortgage...

26 June 2026

Why five-year performance is crucial for picking a fund to buy

When looking at what actively managed fund is right for you a key factor is the long-term performance of the portfolio itself, and the team behind it.

‘Long-term’ is always prescribed as the ‘ideal’ investment time horizon and this usually equals at least five years, because the longer amount of time you give your money to work, the more chance you...

24 June 2026

Bought your first global ETF? Here’s how to build from there

Getting started is always the hardest step. That first run, the first time trying to get your car into gear, riding a bike, the list goes on, and investing is no different.

Usually, most people choose a global equity tracker fund to start with, and for good reason. “It’s a great place to start,” AJ Bell’s Head of Investment Research Paul Angell...

20 June 2026

Warning, your portfolio might be an AI bubble

Companies and sectors attached to the AI trade are storming ahead in returns and market narrative, but that doesn’t mean your whole portfolio should be ‘AI winners’.

Being able to attach yourself to AI in any way has become a common theme in equity markets, and companies have been rewarded for it.

The tech-heavy Nasdaq 100 has outpaced its domestic...